[EIousK  OF  Representatives.] 

HOUSE  OF  REPRF8ENTATIYES,  December  l9, 18G4.— Order- 
ed to  be  printeJ. 

[By  Mr.  Villere.] 

A-METSTDMENT 

To  the  Bill  to  be  entitled  "An  act  to  authorize  the  consolidation 
of  companies,  battalions  and  regiments." 

1  Sf.CTioN  1,  line  10th,  after  "prescribe,"  insert  "Provided,  That 

2  no  such  consolidation  shall  be  made  until  it  shall  clearly  appear 

3  to  the  satisfactior  of  the  Secretaiy  of  War.  that  such  companies, 

4  battalions  and  regiments  cannot  be  sufficiently  recruited  within 
.5  a  reasonable  time  by  the  assignment  of  conscripts,  or  other- 

6  wise."     Line  10th,  after  "Provided,'^  insert  -'further.'^ 

1         Sec.  2.     (Remain  as  it  is.) 

1  Sec.  3.  Strike  out  and  insert  "That  the  officers  of  the  old  or- 

2  ganizations,  over  and  above  the  number  requinte  for  the  new, 

3  shall  be  entitled  to  retain  their  rank  and  commissions,  if  pro- 

4  nounced  worthy  and  competent  by  the  examining  boards  above 

5  provided;  said  judgments  to  be  approved  by  the  General  and 
fi  Secretary  of  War,  and  may,  if  they  elect,  they  and  all  other 

7  officers  without  commands,  organize  themselves  into  a  corps  of 

8  cavalry,  to  be  commanded  by  the  senior  oflScers  joining  the  com  - 

9  mand,  subject  to  the  approval   of  the  President.     Said  corpa 


2 

10  shall  perforiQ  such  special  duty  as  the  Secretary  of  War  or 

11  the  General  commanding  the  Department,  or  seperate  army, 

12  may  order.     All  officers  not  joining  the  above  corps,  may  be 

13  a^ssigned  to  such  appropriate  duties  as  the  Secretary  of  War 

14  may  prescribe;  or  may  enlist  in  any  of  the  regular  organiza- 

15  tions  of  the  army  upon  tender  to]the  proper  authorities  of  their 

16  resignation,  for  that  purpose  '' 

1  Sec.  4.  line  11th,  strike  out  "unfit,"  and  insert  "fit."    Same 

2  line,  strike  out  '-shall  be  dropped  from  the  rolls,  but."     Line 

3  iSth,  after  "third,"  insert  "and  fifth." 

1  Seo.  5.  Strike  out  all  down  to  the  word  "act,"  inclusive  8th 

2  line,  and  in3ert  'all   field,  staff  and  company  officers,   within 

3  sixty  days  after  the  execution  of  the  above  recited  act,  and  all 

4  officers  who  are  now  prisoners  of  war,  within  sixty  days  after 

5  their  exchange,  shall  be  assigned  to  duty   by  the   Secretary  of 

6  War,  or  shall  join  the  above  named  corps,  or  shall  enlist  in  the 

7  army.     At  the  expiration  of  that  time  they  shall  be  held  liable 

8  to  conscription." 


